Her words didn’t fully register. He groaned but didn’t stop her. She wanted to go places he was afraid to show her. Not just Hell, but places inside him.
Need drummed in his blood, the need to touch her in the most intimate way. Maybe this was because of a fated mate bond, but why now? If he let her continue on this path, he would hurt her.
Her hands went to the zipper of his now too-tight jeans. “No.” His voice was harsher than he intended.
“Why not?” He hated the hurt that laced her voice. “I’m an adult. I know what I want.”
“Kyria…” The one word slipped out, guttural and desperate. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Intertwining her fingers with his, she pressed her lips to the spot right next to his ear. “It’s not just me feeling this, is it?”
Eyes closed against the earnest plea on her face. He shook his head. “God, no.”
“What if I promise I’ll tell you to stop if you hurt me.”
He could flip her over and claim her then and there. God, he was on fire. Could he give her want she wanted without losing control?
The chains rattled. Like shards of ice, they pierced his soul and chilled him to the bone.
“Don’t let her control everything about you.” Her hands moved to his face. “She’s not here. You’ve been given this time. I want you to spend it with me, showing me how to please you.” She was a gift.
Nudging her back, he fell to his knees in front of her. He had sworn to never get on his knees for anyone ever again. “Are you sure?’”
She pressed her fingers to his lips. “I want this.” With those words, she tugged his shirt out of his jeans. Flawless hands caressed his scarred body.
The pulse at the base of her neck jumped. With his lips pressed to her favorite spot, he used his free arm to lay her down.
A gasp was followed by the most delicious hitch in her throat. She was stretched out before him, waiting.
With arms over her head, she smiled up at him. “I won’t touch you unless you tell me to.”
Between her jeans and T-shirt, a slim strip of skin called to him. Bracing himself above her, he leaned down and skimmed the inviting curve with his lips.
The strangling sound she emitted encouraged him to go higher. Pushing the shirt up with his nose, he licked and nipped and didn’t stop until his cheek brushed against the underside of her breast. At the same time he blindly fumbled to undo and tug off her pants with one hand. It nearly tripped him up.
He stopped and pressed the side of his face against the pounding of her heart. What had he done to deserve this gift?
Wriggling under him, she touched his shoulder. “Ram?”
He braced his arms on either side of her, making sure not to crush her. He kissed the bare skin she had granted him. “You’re more than I deserve.”
Lowering her arms, she pushed off her jeans and removed her shirt. The light blue bra didn’t cover much.
Working fast, she unhooked her bra.
He had seen many spectacular sights during his long life, but her baring herself to him with such openness took his breath.
“Ram?” Her voice quivered.
How had such a remarkable creature ended up in his arms? He blocked all doubt and anger from his mind and focused on her. Balanced on his elbow, he used his free hand to cup one breast while lavishing kisses on the other. She thrust her chest upward and moaned through gritted teeth. Flicking the bud of her nipple with his tongue, he gently captured it between his teeth as she begged for more.
Her head fell back, lifting her beast even higher. Her left leg rubbed along his thigh.
He knew beyond a doubt there would be no happy ending for him—he’d be back in Hell before the week was out—but for now, she’d get everything she wanted.
The chain rattled as he glided his hand along her rib cage. “Do you ever touch yourself?”
Eyes still closed, she nodded. “Y-yes, but it doesn’t feel like this.”
He lavished attention on the hard peak of the other breast. The chains fell over her ribs as his fingers pulled and kneaded the one that was still wet from his mouth.
Kissing his way up her throat then across her lips, he savored every inch. He trailed his lips all the way down to her navel. There wasn’t a spot of perfect skin he wanted to leave untouched. When he was back in his cell, he wanted her to have enough memories of him that she’d never forget him.
It was selfish, but he couldn’t fight it any longer. She was his, and for this moment, he didn’t want her to regret that.
Her hips thrust harder against him. His body throbbed with desire he didn’t know was possible. From her rib cage to her inner thighs, he stroked her skin. His hands moved as his lips claimed. Today, she was his.
She sobbed. Her hips squirmed, pushing, seeking more pressure.
He pulled back.
“Ramiel!” she screamed.
Her ribs expanded with heavy breaths. “Please, Ram. I want you inside me.”
For the first time in his whole existence, he wanted to cry. He didn’t tell her the truth, that he’d never take her like a man takes a woman.
His soul was too heavy with sin and corruption. Nema had made sure of that.
But he could give Kyria pleasure. He started back at her lips, nibbling and tugging just the way she liked it.
Her panting was heavy between tiny moans as he caressed her legs. She circled him, trying to pull him closer. She rubbed against his jeans.
Her hands reached for him, touching any exposed skin she could.
“Ram, you’re killing me. I can’t. I just can’t…”
He kept moving down. The curve of her belly did mad crazy things to him, and apparently tracing his tongue around her navel did the same to her. He flicked his tongue inside, then he bit the edge.
Arching off the rug she moaned low desperate sounds. She grabbed his hair. “What are. You. Doing?”
He had already moved to her hip bone, smiling against her skin. “I’m distracting you. Is it working?”
“I don’t know what I was supposed to be doing—” Another deep mewing.
He looked up her body. She transported him to someplace good, a place he forgot existed. He kissed the tender place between her hip and leg. “You do whatever feels good.”
“Ram.” A sensual humming filled her throat as she did what he said, delicate fingers pulling on her nipples.
He about died right there and then. Once again, her hips shoved at him demanding attention, reminding him he had another destination.
He drifted down to her thighs and skimmed the tender flesh on the inside of her leg all the way down to her knee.
“Ramiel.” Her hands covered her breasts, groping greedily. “Please, please. I need you inside me. Now.” One of her hands left a beautiful breast and touched the wet curls between her legs.
He bit the tender skin on the inside of her thigh, right under her core. Ecstasy filled him, he wanted to feast on her. A thousand lifetimes with her would never be enough.
“Ram?” Her finger dug into her flesh.
Without a word, he kissed her tummy then spread her legs and kissed the very core of her, nipping at the swollen petals and thrusting his tongue against the spot on top. He bit, pulled, and licked, holding her hips still as she arched her back and screamed his name.
Her whole body convulsed and withered. Finally, she stilled, whimpering his name over and over.
God, he loved her, but he’d never get to tell her. This was a new type of hell. To know her, love her, but not be able to claim her as his.
He slid up and pulled her to him, turning her by the hips so that her back pressed against him, surrounding her with a drape of his limbs.
She ran a hand over his forearm. His chains rattled, and the reality of his actions hit him. He knew better. He should have never let it go this far.
He was a filthy animal, as bad as the demons that used him. He tilted his head back against the chair. “That should not have happened.”
An empty longing bloomed when she peeled herself out of his arms and stared at him. Unable to look at the hurt and humiliation in her eyes, he stood and tucked his shirt into his jeans.
For good measure, he zipped his jacket all the way up. “Stand up.”
Clean and pure. She was good. And he just got his filth all over her. He cursed himself. No number of showers, hot or cold, would ever rid him of this sick feeling on his flesh.
“Don’t ever lie on your back for anyone, Kyria. You’re better than that,” he said through clenched teeth.
“There was nothing wrong with what I did if we both liked it. Don’t make this dirty, Ram.” Unshed tears glistened on her lashes.
She was right. He had the choice, and it was his fault. He chose to save her. Chose to help her find her father. To kiss her, train her, follow her, let her touch him. Chose to keep her father’s location from her. “You’re beautiful and didn’t do anything wrong.” It was all on him.
He deserved the chains and to be stuck in Hell.
He checked the room, warmth draining from his face. “I didn’t even close the fucking door.”
Eyes wide, she touched her lips and a hysterical giggle slipped past. “Oh my God…”
He didn’t understand how she could smile at a time like this. His chest tightened, and he couldn’t tell whether it was from anger, panic, or pure unrestrained love for this impossibly cheerful woman.
That smile would break soon. Not only was he lying about her father, but he would be taken back to Nema in two short days.
Unable to see her or protect her, worse than anything Nema could ever do to him.
For a moment, Kyria let the humiliation and anger burn. His dark eyes darted around the room looking everywhere but at her. Using the moment to fix her clothes rather than say something rash and stupid, she got to her feet.
He was so unsure, lost. She could see it now. It wasn’t about him not wanting her, he just didn’t know what to do with all the desire and despair.
With slow, sure steps, she came up next to Ramiel and touched his wrist, the one shackled by the demon’s iron. “You know, we worked so well together at the barn. Maybe we should just go back there and get some more practice in.”
Ram froze when she slipped her fingers between his. The area between his brows deepened into a V. “I mean it. That shouldn’t have happened.”
“Even if I liked it?”
Disbelief smoothed his scowl. Like his whole world just flipped upside down, yanking the floor out from under him. She could relate. He squeezed her fingers tight. She didn’t flinch. Please, don’t leave me. He brought her hand to his face. Never taking his eyes off hers, he placed an almost tentative kiss to her fingertips. Her skin grew warm, then hot. A burning touch, but she didn’t pull away, enchanted by his tenderness.
His eyes closed. “Damn you, Kyria. What kind of powers do you have that you can heal a ruined bastard like me?”
Her heart pounded harder to the beat of a hopeful drum. I think I’m falling in love with this so-called “ruined bastard.”
“You should go find Bishop while I’m gone. Ask him to tell you stories. I think that might be the trick to getting him to talk a little sense.”
His eyes opened, confusion written in the lines of his scars as he lowered their joined hands. “Where are you going?”
“I know you don’t want me to, but I’m gonna head into town tomorrow. Val texted me a list of supplies earlier that we need for some ritual that will strengthen the barrier around the bunker. I need to do something normal while I think of a way to get into hell, so I volunteered to go shopping.”
He went rigid. “You can’t.”
“Why not?” She moved from him and put the books away.
He blocked the door, face pale. “You can’t go.”
Where the heck is this coming from? “Yes, I can. I know how to drive and everything.” His hand gripping the door frame tightened, wood creaking between strong fingers. “Ram? What’s wrong?”
“I had a vision.” He let go and took a step back. “It was you, in town. Holding a dead child.” He glowered, voice rolling deep into a command. “You’re not going.”
Fear like a knife slid across her abdomen. No, don’t let it stop you. “Yes, I am. I told myself I wasn’t gonna run anymore.” She touched his shoulder as she brushed past him, and he caught her hand.
He gave her an earnest stare. “Take me.” He squeezed her palm. “I mean, I’ll go with you into town. Please. Let me protect you.”
She parted her lips, taken aback. Oh God, my face is burning. How can I refuse him anything when he says it like that?
“Okay. Since I think we make a pretty good team. And because you said please. For now, I think I want to go check on David and hang out with the other kids.” She managed a small smile, and he lowered her hand.
He didn’t let go as she flashed them as close to the bunker as she could without straining herself. Don’t want to waste too much energy if Ramiel is right about danger lurking in town…
But with him at her side, what could go wrong?
Chapter Twenty-Four
The next day a foreboding sense of his ominous vision hit Ramiel hard as soon as he stepped into the small country store.
The little bell that rang above their heads when they entered caught the attention of a middle-aged man behind the counter working on a crossword puzzle. He smiled through his graying beard and gave them a wave. “Kyria. Good to see you. Are you picking up Val’s order today?”
“Hey, Josh. We have the truck out back. We also need to add three bags of salt. We can help move things if you want.”
“Nah, I got it. You just missed the ice storm, though, so we’ve only got two bags left. Weatherman said it was our last bit of winter for the year, but I’ve ordered more to stock up just in case”
“Yeah, the weather can be pretty unpredictable. Two bags will be fine, thanks.”
He nodded. “Lennie’s around here somewhere helping me with inventory. She’s been hell-bent on helping out here since she got back from her mission trip in Argentina. I tell her she needs to rest, but does she listen to me? Stubborn, just like her mother.” He shook his head, eyeing Ram with suspicion. Can’t blame him.
Kyria rattled off all the other supplies they needed in bulk as he stalked through the aisles, restless.
Josh left, excusing himself to go load their order after she gave him keys to the truck to drive it around to the modest loading bay. From another entrance, a woman appeared with a stack of junk food in her arms. She had long waves of blonde hair and soft blue eyes. They were gentle and observant but still had nothing on Kyria’s.
“Kyria. It’s so good to see you.” Laughing for no apparent reason, the slightly pregnant female rushed Kyria. They hugged.
Must be Lennie. She couldn’t be too far along, from the looks of it. Maybe four months. He sensed it in the aura of her spirit more than physical proof provided.
Shit, she’s from the vision.
When they parted, she pinned Ramiel with a stare, inevitably drawn to the line of his chains. He crossed his arms. Seconds passed in silence, then she smiled again, a little less enthusiastic this time. “Who’s this handsome devil? Let me guess. He’s from Austin…no wait, Houston.”
How the fuck did she know that? He squinted. She wasn’t any kind of heavenly being. What was she, other than heavy with child? Maybe that gave her some sort of weird power.
Kyria wrapped her arm around his, admonishing him gently. “Stop glaring. Your taste in fashion gave you away.” She winked.
Funny…
“Lennie, this is Ramiel. We did meet in Houston. He’s a…musician. Ram, this is Lennie. She and Josh run the store together, a family business.”
He grunted and uncrossed his arms. Kyria gave him a look.
A tight smile returned to the other woman’s face. “That’s fine. I’ve always liked the strong and silent type, myself.” She turned and headed down the junk
food aisle.
Without hesitating, Kyria followed Lennie. Ram glanced out a window briefly to see dark clouds looming on the horizon.
“So, how’s winter treating you guys?”
The rest of their conversation faded into the background as Ramiel battled out a plan. He could either grab Kyria and make a run for it before anything happened, or he could stay and see where the vision took him now that he had changed the circumstances. Since Kyria decided not to bring any of the children, the incident would either never occur…or just turn out differently. Either way, he didn’t like the odds.
He moved to the back of the store where a wide window gave him a view of the back lot. Outside, Josh went back and forth from some old shed to Val’s truck. Minutes passed, and soon the bed of the truck was filled with firewood, small buckets of mixed ingredients, and the two sacks of salt.
It wasn’t normal ranch supplies. Then again, he had no idea what normal ranch stuff would look like. This was definitely for the magic barrier. If only he knew a ritual strong enough to protect the whole town.
Tamiel could probably do it.
What the hell? Why do I keep thinking about them?
Josh returned through the back and met the chatty women at the checkout counter. Kyria handed him the cash from her little wallet. There, it’s done. Nothing bad had happened. They could finally leave. He exhaled. One step closer to getting her back to the ranch.
“It was great seeing you guys again.” Kyria took the long receipt as she spoke and tucked it in her pocket. Ram held the back door open.
Lennie fumbled around with some drawers before slipping on a pair of horn-rimmed glasses. “Ky, you know I always love talking to you. You and Darius don’t come around often enough. Y’all shouldn’t isolate yourselves. You’re too young to be a recluse.” She gave Ram a glance even if she hadn’t been talking to him.
“We just have so much on our plates.” Kyria hesitated. “Dad’s work keeps him super busy and out of town, you know?”
Those soft eyes flickered from Ramiel to Kyria. “Well, if you stop coming to town altogether, folks will start talking. We gotta know how y’all are doing every now and then. Or we’ll have to send a search party out for you.” The woman laughed.
Unchained Desire Page 16
